One man is in hospital in serious condition after a semi-trailer smashed into an SUV that had slowed down for a dust cloud created by a street sweeper on Highway 1 near Canmore, Tuesday (April 26).
The SUV was travelling eastbound at approximately 7:30 a.m. between exits 86 and 89 when it approached a Volker Stevin street sweeper. After cresting a rise, the SUV slowed to below the speed limit due to reduced visibility caused by a dust cloud thrown up by the sweeper.
A tractor-trailer unit then crested the rise and was unable to slow down in time, colliding with the SUV on the highway. The rear of the SUV crumpled under the force of the impact.
The driver of the SUV was airlifted by STARS to Foothills Hospital with serious injuries, however, his condition stabilized by the time he was removed from the scene. He is described as a 48-year-old man from Manitoba. The driver of the tractor-trailer suffered no injuries.
Canmore RCMP Cpl. Darleen White said the SUV was travelling under the speed limit at the time of the collision, and likely could not see much because of the dust cloud.
“It would be like driving in a fog,” White said.
The street sweeper did not stop, and Cpl. White said it’s unlikely the driver saw the accident that occurred.
The RCMP contacted Volker Stevin to assist with the accident clean-up, however, the contractor said they were busy with another assignment, White said.
White said vehicles must exhibit caution when around street sweepers and slow down when visibility is reduced. “It’s similar to driving behind a snow plow.”
White said RCMP have expressed concern about such incidents in the past.
The incident is still under investigation and police have not laid charges at this time. They have yet to interview the driver of the SUV.
Spokesman for Alberta Transportation Trent Bancarz said it’s uncommon for street sweepers to be used on highways.
“Street sweepers are a lot like snowplows. They are slow moving vehicles and people need to be careful around them. There is some debris and that cloud effect. We caution people to use caution around them.”
Stones are usually cleared into the ditch in rural areas, Bancarz said.
Street sweepers usually have strobe lights on them, however, there is no official requirement from Alberta Transportation for contractors to have them. There is also no requirement for street sweepers to use a pilot vehicle when on the highway.
“There aren’t a lot of rules for sweeper trucks. They are considered maintenance vehicles.”
